PIMA-CT: Physical Model-Aware Cyclic Simulation and Denoising for Ultra-Low-Dose CT Restoration.

A body of studies has proposed to obtain high-quality images from low-dose and noisy Computed Tomography (CT) scans for radiation reduction. However, these studies are designed for population-level data without considering the variation in CT devices and individuals, limiting the current approaches' performance, especially for ultra-low-dose CT imaging. Here, we proposed PIMA-CT, a physical anthropomorphic phantom model integrating an unsupervised learning framework, using a novel deep learning technique called Cyclic Simulation and Denoising (CSD), to address these limitations.

Structure and Dynamics of Collagen Hydration Water from Molecular Dynamics Simulations: Implications of Temperature and Pressure.

Dynamics of water molecules in hydrated collagen plays an important role in determining the structural and functional properties of collagenous tissues. Experimental results suggest that collagen-bridging water molecules exhibit dynamic and thermodynamic properties of one-dimensional ice. However, molecular dynamics (MD) studies performed to date have failed to identify icelike water bridges.

Navigating the medical physics education and training landscape.

Purpose: The education and training landscape has been profoundly reshaped by the ABR 2012/2014 initiative and the MedPhys Match. This work quantifies these changes and summarizes available reports, surveys, and statistics on education and training.

Methods: We evaluate data from CAMPEP-accredited program websites, annual CAMPEP graduate and residency program reports, and surveys on the MedPhys Match and Professional Doctorate degree (DMP).

Measurement of aortic augmentation index in pregnant women with raised blood pressure and subsequent outcomes: a preliminary prospective cohort study.

Objective: Preeclampsia is associated with arterial dysfunction and augmentation index (AIX%) is an established indicator of arterial dysfunction. Our aim was to investigate the relationship of AIX% with time-to-delivery and other outcomes in women admitted to an antenatal triage unit.

Methods: We recruited 28 women with singleton pregnancies attending antenatal triage ward for assessment of hypertension.

Lack of appreciation of the role of osmotically unresponsive water in cell volume regulation.

The osmotic responsiveness of cell water has been re-evaluated of reports on the osmotic behaviour of cells. In seven animal cell types, the osmotically unresponsive water (OUR) fraction values ranged from 0.75 to 2.

Construction of a preclinical multimodality phantom using tissue-mimicking materials for quality assurance in tumor size measurement.

World Health Organization (WHO) and the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) working groups advocated standardized criteria for radiologic assessment of solid tumors in response to anti-tumor drug therapy in the 1980s and 1990s, respectively. WHO criteria measure solid tumors in two-dimensions, whereas RECIST measurements use only one-dimension which is considered to be more reproducible (1, 2, 3,4,5). These criteria have been widely used as the only imaging biomarker approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (6).

Outcomes of pregnancy following postpartum haemorrhage.

Objective: To assess the outcomes of pregnancy following postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) in the first pregnancy.

Design: Cohort study.

Setting: Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Scotland, UK.

3T magnetic resonance imaging accurately depicts radiofrequency ablation zones in a blood-perfused bovine liver model.

Purpose: To determine if noncontrast T1-weighted (T1W) images from 3T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging accurately depict radiofrequency (RF) ablation zones as determined macroscopically and microscopically in a blood-perfused bovine liver model.

Materials And Methods: Three-dimensional (3D) gradient-recalled echo (GRE) T1W images were obtained on a 3T MR imaging scanner after RF ablations (n = 14) of in vitro blood-perfused bovine livers. The resulting central hypointense and peripheral hyperintense signal regions were measured and compared with the inner tan and outer red zones of the gross specimen.

Maintenance of low sodium and high potassium levels in cells and in tendon/collagen.

Mammalian cells have a higher concentration of potassium and a lower concentration of sodium than their extracellular environment. The mechanisms responsible for the unequal distribution of these ions are commonly ascribed to the presence of an energy requiring plasma membrane ATPase pump, and the presence of membrane channels that pass one ion selectively, while excluding others. This report deals with other mechanisms that might explain this heterogeneous distribution of ions.

Preclinical multimodality phantom design for quality assurance of tumor size measurement.

Background: Evaluation of changes in tumor size from images acquired by ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a common measure of cancer chemotherapy efficacy. Tumor size measurement based on either the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria or the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) is the only imaging biomarker for anti-cancer drug testing presently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The aim of this paper was to design and test a quality assurance phantom with the capability of monitoring tumor size changes with multiple preclinical imaging scanners (US, CT and MRI) in order to facilitate preclinical anti-cancer drug testing.

Evaluation of treatment effects in obese children with co-morbid medical or psychiatric conditions.

The need for effective treatments for pediatric overweight is well known. To evaluate the applicability of an evidence-based treatment in an applied clinic setting that includes children with severe obesity and comorbid medical or psychiatric conditions. Forty-eight overweight children and their families were provided an evidence-based intervention at a for-profit clinic.

The molecular stoichiometric hydration model (SHM) as applied to tendon/collagen, globular proteins and cells.

This report describes and documents the presence of multiple water-of-hydration fractions on proteins and in cells. Initial studies of hydration fractions in g of water/g of DM (dry mass) for tendon/collagen led to the development of the molecular SHM (stoichiometric hydration model) and the development of methods for calculating the size of hydration fractions on a number of different proteins of known amino acid composition. The water fractions have differences in molecular motion and other physical properties due to electrostatic interactions of polar water molecules with electric fields generated by covalently bound pairs of opposite partial charge on the protein backbone.

Solvothermal aluminophosphate zeotype synthesis with ionic liquid precursors.

We have carried out a study of aluminophosphate framework synthesis using several amine based ionic liquids and their parent amines as solvent and template. The results suggest that in the presence of fluoride ions from hydrofluoric acid the ionic liquids and their parent amines produce the same frameworks, while in synthesis without fluoride ions the products are not related. The results include the synthesis and crystal structure of a novel extra-large pore material using 1-methylpyrrolidine as solvent and template.

Micro-CT dilatometry measures of molecular collagen hydration using bovine extensor tendon.

Purpose: This article introduces a new method to study macromolecular hydration using micro-CT dilatometry. The complexity of hydration dependence on solvent temperature, pH, ionic charge, ionic activity, and ionic radii are barriers to comprehensive understanding of protein function. The crystalline character of collagen-tendon suggests that tendon dilatometry may give direct access to measures of molecular tropocollagen solvation response.

QA procedures for multimodality preclinical tumor drug response testing.

Purpose: There are growing expectations that imaging biomarkers for tumor therapeutic drug response assessment will speed up preclinical testing of anticancer drugs in rodent models. The only imaging biomarker presently approved by the U.S.

A proto-type design of a real-tissue phantom for the validation of deformation algorithms and 4D dose calculations.

The purpose of this study is to design a real-tissue phantom for use in the validation of deformation algorithms. A phantom motion controller that runs sinusoidal and non-regular patient-based breathing pattern, via a piston, was applied to porcine liver tissue. It was regulated to simulate movement ranges similar to recorded implanted liver markers from patients.

Ultrasound-guided intratumoral administration of collagenase-2 improved liposome drug accumulation in solid tumor xenografts.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of intratumoral administration of collagenase-2 on liposomal drug accumulation and diffusion in solid tumor xenografts.

Methods: Correlation between tumor interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) and tumor physiological properties (size and vessel fraction by B-mode and Doppler ultrasound, respectively) was determined. IFP response to intravenous or intratumoral collagenase-2 (0.

Should non-mosaic Klinefelter syndrome men be labelled as infertile in 2009?

Background: Klinefelter syndrome is a common genetic condition. Affected non-mosaic men are azoospermic and have been labelled as infertile. Despite reports that these men can have children using assisted reproduction techniques, it is not common practice in the UK to offer sperm retrieval to these men.

Polycystic ovary syndrome and the risk of gynaecological cancer: a systematic review.

The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review of the literature to determine whether there is an association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and gynaecological malignancy. Medline and Embase databases (1968-2008) were searched to identify publications on the association between PCOS and gynaecological cancers including breast cancer. Studies were selected that examined the association between PCOS and all types of gynaecological malignancies.

Effects of a school-based weight maintenance program for Mexican-American children: results at 2 years.

The prevalence of childhood overweight has increased significantly, with the highest rates noted among Mexican Americans. Many negative health outcomes are associated with overweight; thus, there is a need for effective weight-loss interventions tailored to this group. This study evaluated 24-month outcomes of a randomized, controlled trial involving an intensive lifestyle-based weight maintenance program targeting overweight Mexican-American children at a charter school in Houston, Texas.

Bioengineering and Imaging Research Opportunities Workshop V: a white paper on imaging and characterizing structure and function in native and engineered tissues.

The fifth Bioengineering and Image Research Opportunities Workshop (BIROW V) was held on January 18-19, 2008. As with previous BIROW meetings, the purpose of BIROW V was to identify and characterize research and engineering opportunities in biomedical engineering and imaging. The topic of this BIROW meeting was Imaging and Characterizing Structure and Function in Native and Engineered Tissues.

Characterization of water of hydration fractions in rabbit skeletal muscle with age and time of post-mortem by centrifugal dehydration force and rehydration methods.

Centrifugal dehydration force (CDF) and rehydration isotherm (RHI) methods were used to measure and characterize hydration fractions in rabbit psoas skeletal muscle. The CDF method assessed fluid flow rate from rabbit muscle and hydration capacity of the fractions. Bulk and multiple non-bulk water fractions were identified.